Amusing thoughts on how the cell phone industry might change. I wonder how Verizon would force me to change as I have been a customer since the GTE days and my contract is such that I don't have to change to another plan.

Considering various issues I wonder if at&t is actually in that good a shape. I know quite a few people who would bolt if Verizon or anyone else would get the iPhone.

Amusing thoughts on how the cell phone industry might change. I wonder how Verizon would force me to change as I have been a customer since the GTE days and my contract is such that I don't have to change to another plan.

Considering various issues I wonder if at&t is actually in that good a shape. I know quite a few people who would bolt if Verizon or anyone else would get the iPhone.

ATT is in no danger of going under. And remember, Verizon isn't much better then ATT when it comes to nickel and dimming its customers. They were the first to raise the ETF on new devices to over $300.

The government takes and the government gives away,
Blessed be the name of the government.

There has been discussion concerning additional taxation, regulation, and such with the communications industry. I figure in the next 5 years the cell phone and internet will change and anytime a change is forced the existing corporate infrastructure is at risk.

If you think not look at the wackos currently controlling the content of school textbooks in Texas. Some of them are evidence of de-evolution.

In regards to the AT&T data plan changes, if it is successful, I see other carriers following suit. However, we'll see how consumers take too it. Saving 5 dollars a month to get 40% of the data you were getting before doesn't sound like a good deal to me. I am sure most of AT&T's users don't go over 2 GB. But, I would imagine this change also goes for air cards. In that case, I could easily see users going over the 2GB limit.

While AT&T saves you 5 dollars a month and cut the data by 60%, Sprint raised their rates by 10 dollars for the EVO and made it truly unlimited with no cap (for 4G).

__________________The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.When you take things for granted, the things you are granted, get taken. Even a mosquito doesn't get a pat on the back until it starts to work.Too many people miss the silver lining because they're expecting gold.[BES 5.0.3 / GroupWise 2012 HP2]

In regards to the AT&T data plan changes, if it is successful, I see other carriers following suit. However, we'll see how consumers take too it. Saving 5 dollars a month to get 40% of the data you were getting before doesn't sound like a good deal to me. I am sure most of AT&T's users don't go over 2 GB. But, I would imagine this change also goes for air cards. In that case, I could easily see users going over the 2GB limit.

While AT&T saves you 5 dollars a month and cut the data by 60%, Sprint raised their rates by 10 dollars for the EVO and made it truly unlimited with no cap (for 4G).

It's always seemed to me that market pressure is in the direction of unlimited/no hard cap, going all the way back to dial-up. But I really can only speak for myself. Unlimited is at the top of my priorities just on principle. It wouldn't be the make or break service feature when choosing a carrier, but it would be important enough to sway me. It was in large part the reason I chose T-Mobile back when I got a blackberry; that, and the very reasonable data plan cost. (And I've been happy ever since. I know T-Mobile gets hacked on, but they do good for me, and I travel a lot.)

I'm still keeping my 3GS and not upgrading to the new iPhone 4. It does everything I want and I don't need all the extra stuff that the new one comes with. I won't even upgrade the OS when it comes out until I jailbreak comes out that isn't buggy. I've been very happy with my 3GS as it does everything I want it to do and everything that my BB did short of BBM which I didn't use much anyhow.

As far as the data caps go, Unless i buy a new contract or add another phone to my contract then I'm still unlimited data. I'm on WiFi at work at at home so I'm good there as far as data goes.

In regards to the AT&T data plan changes, if it is successful, I see other carriers following suit. However, we'll see how consumers take too it. Saving 5 dollars a month to get 40% of the data you were getting before doesn't sound like a good deal to me. I am sure most of AT&T's users don't go over 2 GB. But, I would imagine this change also goes for air cards. In that case, I could easily see users going over the 2GB limit.

While AT&T saves you 5 dollars a month and cut the data by 60%, Sprint raised their rates by 10 dollars for the EVO and made it truly unlimited with no cap (for 4G).

The article below says over 98% of their users don't have to worry, which is consistent with what I've heard elsewhere. The people who go over account for a pretty big share of the data volume. I can't recall the number, but one analyst said those 1.? % of users were into double digit share of total volume. So it sounds prudent those users should be paying more. Otherwise AT&T will keep having to add network capacity which they'll just spread to everyone's bill.

All developers have to do is just change the update frequency on their apps to less often or at least build that option in, and most users could probably cut down usage significantly and be under the cap for years.

Yes well that is always the debate isnt it? How much data we are using. In the beginning of blackberry they had tiered plans. Depending on how many emails you received in a month could dictate just how much data you pulled down. So if you are using you smart phone for email on a corp scale, how much data will you use? if you just change the frequency of download, it doesnt matter. you are still downloading the same amount of data, just not as often. Its not the times per day you download, but how much.

The same argument can be made for the netbooks vs. dedicated aircard. I can get unlimited data on an aircard, but only 5mb on a netbook?!

I also wonder if the data limits will change for tethering with the iPhone or any other device as well. I would be curious to see what peoples bills are going to do when the data service change goes into effect. I understand what they say about 98% dont have to worry, but how many of that 98% are just plain old cell phone users??? Cause geez you have to lump them in with the numbers right?

I will be jumping on the band wagon with the iPhone 4, kicking and screaming. I have one for testing and leave it on Airplane mode most of the time. I would rather type and call on my blackberry then the iPhone. There are so many features that I find unuseful. It has some really great graphics and my bespelled game is awsome on it.

__________________Your profession is not what brings home your paycheck. It is what you were put on earth to do.